To the Readers' Forum:
I just read the article in the PJ about litter. Trash cans, ashtrays won't end litter mess. Really? If the government hadn't taken the ashtrays out of the bars and entertainment industry, we wouldn't even be discussing this issue again.
The bars, clubs, bowling alleys, bingo halls, etc. didn't have this problem until we all got blindsided by this law. I am no longer in business for myself anymore, but I don't like seeing the comment at the end of this article saying smokers are slobs. I have gone down Third Street and seen businessmen throwing their cigarette butts! I am a smoker and not a slob. I don't smoke in my house and have an ashtray on my porch. Yes I live next to the bar and haven't really had any problems with butts being on my property and if they happen to be there, someone always picks them up. Please don't classify smokers as slobs.
I would be more concerned about the pop cans, candy wrappers, and fast food bags all over the streets. Everyday I have to pick them out of the bushes in front of my house. That's more disgusting than a cigarette butt.
I have said since 2002 that this law was going to create more problems than just health. People are staying home to drink and smoke and guess what happened? More domestic violence, more littering, less revenue and the list goes on.
I will say it again: If the government wants all these restrictions on the tobacco industry then they should not subsidize the industry and they should just ban tobacco altogether. But we all know that they won't ever do that because of the tax money they are getting from the smokers.
Brenda Perks
Falconer
(Former owner of Mel's Place)